The spectacle of the Northern Lights in Italy: the event visible even from Etna

Last Updated: May 11, 2024

Explanation: The article talks about a rare Northern Lights event that was visible throughout Italy on the night of Friday 10th and Saturday 11th of May. The phenomenon was observed in all regions of northern and central Italy, as well as in Sardinia, Abruzzo, Molise, Basilicata, Sicily, and Puglia. The cause of this magnificent spectacle was a geomagnetic storm that had been predicted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa) of the United States, which issued a solar storm warning. The article explains that the solar activity is at its maximum cycle of about 11 years, and a major solar flare event had occurred. The effects were most pronounced in Russia, China, and India, and it was the first event of this magnitude since November 2003.